Combined shoe tree and stretcher



R. 5. BOYS 7 Oct. 14, 1930.

COMBINED SHOE TREE AND STRETCHER Filed Feb. 23, 1928 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES RALPH S. BOYS, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT COMBINED SHOE TREE AND STRETCHER Application filed February 23, 1928. Serial No. 256,367.

The present invention relates to improvements in combined shoe trees and stretchers. The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that it can be conveniently placed in a shoe and adjusted to retain the shoe in shape or adjusted to stretch the shoe, as desired.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide novel means for pivotally and adjustably connecting the heel and toe members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind extremely simple in construction, durable, efficient in operation, and one which can be manufactured at a very small cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, partly in section, showing the same engaged in a shoe.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, the screw shaft being cut on the line :2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view through the heel member.

Figure l is a detail sectional view of a modified form of heel.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the toe member, which is of shell-like formation, but it will, of course, be understood that it may be made solid should it be found desirable.

The toe member has its inner end formed with a vertical slot 2 in which is pivotally connected, by a cross pin 3, the eye l of a screw shaft connector 5, said eye terminating in a shank 6. The shank has formed integral therewith a head 7 which is disposed at right angles to the eye and has threaded therein the screw shaft 8.

A handle 9 is fixed to one end of the screw shaft 8, while rotatably connected to the other end is a heel member 10. It will be observed upon reference to Figure 3' of the drawing, that the shaft is formed with a circular terminal flange 11 whcih engages the annular shoulder 12 formed in the bore 13 of said member, said shaft having an unthreaded portion for engagement in the small bore 14, a plug 15 being driven in the bore 13 to positively connect the member 10 to the shaft 8.

It will be obvious that when the toe member is engaged in the vamp of the shoe and the heel member engaged in the heel counter thereof, the shaft may be rotated through the medium of the handle 9, whereupon the rota- 00 tion of the shaft will exert pressure upon the toe member 1 upwardly in order to exert sufficient pressure to hold the members properly positioned to retain the shoe in shape. The pressure upon the toe member may be increased when it is desired to stretch the shoe.

I prefer to make the toe member 1 and the heel member 10 and handle 9 from wood but, of course, it will be understood that aluminum or any other suitable material may be used if desired.

Since the shaft 8 is pivotably connected with the toe member 1, the device may be adjusted for use in connection with shoes 7 5 of various sizes.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be ap parent to those skilled in the art without so further description and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape and proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages S5 of the invention.

In Figure 4 the heel member is provided with a recess 16 in which is driven a bushing 17 serving to rotatably interlock the member 10 and shaft 8.

What is claimed is:

A shoe tree and stretcher comprising a toe member, a head pivoted to the rear end of said toe member for vertical movement and having a threaded opening formed therein, a 9d threaded shaft passed through the opening and projecting above and below the head and having its lower portion unthreaded and formed with an annular flange extending entirely about the same at its end, a heel memher having a pocket in its u per portion rotatahly receiving the flanged lower end portion of said shaft, a bushing fitting tightly Within said pocket about the unthreaoled lower portion of said shaft and bearing 7 against its flange and a ferrule fitting about said heel member and overlying the upper end of said bushing to retain the bushing Within the pocket.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RALPH S. BOYS. [as] 

